NEW!!!! Tarot Readings at Carmon's in Champaign

Tuesday Night

Tarot Readings at Carmon's in downtown Champaign, IL



I'm excited to share with you that I will now be doing readings in downtown Champaign, just a few blocks from the Amtrak/Greyhound bus station and in the center of a lot cute shops, restaurants and theatre. You can read the details down below.--Catherine



Stop by Carmon's, a casual, fun bar and French cafe,

on Tuesday nights, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for tarot readings by Catherine Novak of Beads N Botanicals. Catherine has read cards for many years. Bring your questions about love, life, career,

health and business and see what insights she can give you.



Ten-minute readings run $15. Sign up at the bar for a look at what your future may bring.



LOCATION:

Carmon's

415 North Neil St

Champaign, IL

217-352-5880



Carmon's is a French bistro with

great food and drinks, including the mysterious and formerly forbidden

liquor, Absinthe.



Catherine Novak has served as an

adjunct faculty member for Northampton Community College, Bethlehem,

Pa., been a featured speaker at Barnes & Noble; and spoken about

medicinal herbs on the Health Nuts NJ radio show. She appeared on the

Judy Lewis show: Psychic World. Most recently she and her son appeared

on ABC's Sunrise This Morning out of Champaign, IL.



Catherine is available for individual

herbal and health consultations, hypnotherapy for behavior

modification, relaxation and pain management, Reiki energy balancing

and classes at her office at Beads N Botanicals, and can be reached at

at 217-283-6380 or beadsnbotanicals@gmail.com

Dreamcatcher Workshop

Let’s Make A Dream Catcher…..

Marlita (Rainbow Buffalo) will lead us in this workshop.

You will use your vision, energy and creativity to make
your own dream catcher and decorate it the way you desire, while learning the history and application of this sacred medicine.

All materials will be provided.
However, if you have special beads, feathers, animal hide or hair with which you wish to decorate your dream catcher, bring them.

If you choose to gather willow or grapevine from Nature, gather it in a Sacred Way.
Address and give thanks to each direction - The Creator, Mother Earth, the East, the South, the West and the North. Give a tobacco and Cornmeal offering to the plant,
and now you can cut your branch.

There will be an optional Pipe Ceremony before the workshop. (starting at 12 noon) It is traditional to gift the Pipe Carrier with tobacco, sweetgrass, cornmeal, beads or some token of thanks and respect wrapped in red cloth. (money is unacceptable)

DATE: Saturday, March 29, 2008
TIME: 1p.m. (12 noon for the pipe ceremony)
COST: Adult: $65.
Child accompanied by an adult $15.
Elder: (65 yrs +) $45.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call:
Beads N Botanicals to R.S.V.P.
and pre-register with payment at 217-283-6380,

Class starts at 1 p.m. at Beads N Botanicals, 227 S. Market St., Hoopeston, IL 60942

Store owner, Catherine Novak, has served as an adjunct faculty member for Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, Pa., been a featured speaker at Barnes & Noble; and spoken about medicinal herbs on the Health Nuts NJ radio show. She appeared on the Judy Lewis show: Psychic World. Most recently she and her son appeared on ABC's Sunrise This Morning out of Champaign, IL.

Catherine is available for individual herbal and health consultations, hypnotherapy for behavior modification, relaxation and pain management, Reiki energy balancing, tarot readings and classes at her office at Beads N Botanicals, and can be reached at at 217-283-6380 or beadsnbotanicals@gmail.com
Webstore: http://wiseweeds.net

Wire Wrapped Tourmaline Pendants

Wire Wrapped Black Tourmaline Crystal Pendants

I love working with healing crystals and find that making them into beautiful jewelry gives people an opportunity to not only benefit from the crystal's healing energies, but also from the beauty of the artisan-crafted piece itself.

Like many artisans, I go through phases of making one style of jewelry and then move on to another. I did this with my Flower Garden bracelet series (which I may feature in a future blog) and have also done this with the creation of a series of Chakra Crystal bracelets and Crystal bracelets featuring clear quartz and other semiprecious stones, such as Turquoise, Amethyst, Fluorite, Moonstone, Tigers Eye and others.

Right now I am in the middle of a wire wrapping frenzy!

I got in a new shipment of rough Black Tourmaline specimens, some of which are terminated, and others are slices which make wonderful pendants.

These wire wrapped tourmaline pendants have been very popular. I haven’t even had a chance to photograph some before they flew out of the shop.

Some of their popularity has to do with the beauty of the pendants themselves. It probably doesn’t hurt that Black Tourmaline has a reputation for being a protective talisman against negativity.

As you’ll see, copper wire makes a beautiful contrast to the stark, dark black of the tourmalines.

I hope to have some of these pendants listed in my webstore for sale shortly.

Black Tourmaline

Taken from Wikipedia: A complex silicate of boron and aluminum, whose composition varies widely because of substitutions. Black (schorl), blue (indicolite), pink and red (rubellite), brown (dravite), green, multicolored, rarely white; vitreous; streak white. Hexagonal, usually short to long prismatic crystals that commonly have a rounded triangular cross section, striated lengthwise; also radiating, columnar, compact. Tourmaline is harder than apatite and further distinguished from apatite and beryl by striations. Tourmaline forms in igneous and metamorphic rocks and veins. It occurs with lepidolite, microcline, and spodumene in granite pegmatites and others.
Tourmaline is widely used as a semiprecious gemstone.

Metaphysical Properties:

Can be used to enhance psychic protection.

Clears oneself and one's surroundings of negativity and disharmony.
Good for releasing negative thinking, anxiety, anger and low self-esteem.
Protect's one's energy field from psychic attachments, entities and energetic debris.
Grounding and calming influence.
Deflects and repels negative energy, especially psychic attack.
Protects against microwaves, radiation, "spells," and ill-wishing.
Grounds spiritual energy, increases physical vitality.
Defends against debilitating disease, strengthens immune system.
Treats dyslexia and arthritis.

According to Melody's book, Love is in the Earth,
some of the properties found in Black Tourmaline (Schorl) are:
Can be used to both repel and protect against negativity.
It acts to protect one from being victimized by the negative energy of another.
It has also been used as an energy deflector, being an excellent stone
for those with potential for exposure to excessive amounts of radiation.
Also used to activate grounding between the first chakra and the earth.

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Aromatherapy: help or hype?

The monthly magazine, Central Illinois Health Magazine, just published an article on aromatherapy in its February 2008 issue. The article: “Aromatherapy: help or hype?” by Kelsey C. Blackwell, takes a close look at whether or not aromatherapy can help people become healthier.

Although the article is credited to Blackwell, Greta Hale, the magazine’s editor, is the person who interviewed me in December 2007. Considering the skeptical tone of the article (which, overall, was very balanced in its presentation), I am very pleased with how I was identified and quoted (although I’ve actually been studying and teaching for more than 15 years, rather than the 12 years noted in the article.)

Normally I would just include a link to the article, but unfortunately the magazine is not web-friendly right now. The following quoted material is from p. 33

Catherine Novak also knows the value of essential oils. She owns Beads and Botanicals in Hoopeston and the online business Wise Weeds.net [Please note: this should be wiseweeds.net C.N.] …She believes aromatherapy is a useful and non-threatening tool to complement traditional medical treatments.

“What I see a lot coming into the shop are people who have already seen a doctor and they’re looking for more relief, she said.

Novak sells custom blends and essential oils. One blend, named banish pain oil, contains essential oils mixed in with another oil infused with St. John’s wort. Her customers have found that it works to relieve arthritis and chronic muscle pain and even helps with pain from carpel tunnel, Novak said.

The article also included information on some of the types of aromatherapy blends I offer clients and customers, including my Banish Pain and Clear Air formulas.

I found it sad that one of the scientists quoted in another section of the text said that peppermint oil was not effective for headaches or migraines. I say sad because I’ve seen where a little bit of peppermint oil mixed into a carrier oil has given relief to headache/migraine sufferers.

Still, all in all, this is a great article with a lot of information.

Central Illinois Health Magazine is published by the News-Gazette in Champaign, IL

Body/Mind/Spirit Wednesday Night Classes

The Crystals Used for Healing class last Wednesday was a lot of fun, with some interesting experiences shared by the class members.

This coming week's class, "How to Work with Pendulums" should also prove to be enlightening and delightful.

Our Wednesday night classes start at 6:30 p.m., here at Beads N Botanicals in Hoopeston, IL 217-283-6380. $5.00 per person and PLEASE show up at least 10 minutes before to make sure we don't lock you out.

February 6, 2008, will be our "Basics of Psychic Protection."
February 13, "The Healing Power of Love."
Feb. 20, "A Meditation for Relaxation."
Feb. 27, "Tapping into Your Intuition."

See you!

Happy New Year, Back Here in the MidWest

Well, made it back to the MidWest after being away the week between Christmas and New Year's. Actually made it back Dec. 30, so we were NOT on the road when all the snow hit.

Even with all the flooding this week, it was hopping at The Office last night, when I did readings there. Barely walked in the door and had several readings with folks. Then it was quiet for a while. Then I got slammed and had to stay late. Got out of there close to 11 p.m. just as the band really got cranking. If I weren't driving a bit, I probably would have stayed to hang out and listen.

It was fun to be back at The Office after being away for three weeks with all the holiday actitivies. Even without the University being in full session yet, Urbana's kickin'

On another note, we've got a Seven Chakras class here tonight starting at 6:30 p.m. (here in Hoopeston at Beads N Botanicals) and next week another Meditation for Relaxation class. Hope to see ya!

Fashion Trends in Jewely: the Pearl Connection

Pictured is a pair of Amethyst, Fresh Water Pearls & MOP Earrings

I love working with healing crystals and find that making them into beautiful jewelry gives people an opportunity to not only benefit from the crystal's healing energies, but also from the beauty of the artisan-crafted piece itself.

Lately I’ve been making several necklaces and bracelets featuring freshwater pearls, as well as incorporating pearls into a variety of earrings.

I thought it was just a fluke on my part (well, I was inspired by a local jewelry store advertising a variety of pearl earrings and necklaces.) What I discovered, though, is that long, swinging pearl earrings are the number one fashion choice.

Yep, sensuous, shoulder-sweeping pearl earrings are being promoted as The Way to be glamorous and in on the latest fashion trends.

I’ve been taking my designs one step more, using MOP teeth (mother-of-pearl) mixed in necklaces and earrings. The one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces are absolutely incredible. Even similar looking pear dangle earrings differ because each pearl, as a unique natural product, has its own character.

Right now I have some of the earrings up on EBAY, either in my EBAY storefront or at auction. More of them are here at the shop, and I hope to get some listed in my webstore as well.

Check out all the gemstone earrings, and wire wrapped pendants, as well.

Amethyst

A “Stone of spirituality and contentment.” Clears the aura. Brings stability, strength & peace. Used for meditation. Opens and activates the Crown Chakra. Protects against psychic attacks. Encourages and supports sobriety. Used to treat insomnia and clear pain from headaches and other physical problems.

Pearl
Signifies faith, charity & innocence. Enhances personal integrity. Focuses one’s attention. Allows for a clean channel for receiving spiritual guidance. Brings truth to situations & loyalty to causes.

Mother of Pearl, Paua Shell,Abalone

Abalone is a Mollusk (shelled fish) in the Gastropod class. Gastropods also include snails and whelks. Abalone is prized for its meat as well as its beautiful shell. The pretty part of the shell in on the inside, where nacre (mother of pearl) of a variety of colors can be seen.The word "Abalone" comes from the Spanish word aulone, which is the name of the animal. The shell is also called Paua Shell.

Crystal healers use Abalone for a large variety of purposes. It is thought to be helpful in disorders involving joints, bones, and muscles.It protects against uncooperative attitudes, stimulates creativity, and promotes calm. Not surprisingly, it also helps in calcium deficiencies.
Since Mollusks often have to leave their shells to find larger ones when they grow, all shells are considered to bring boundless growth in life and thought.
The Abalone that you often see in jewelry is a brilliant blue or purple.
It is sometimes known as a "Sea Opal" due to the changing opalescent hues.

Silver
Patience. Perserverance. Perception. Silver has long been thought to destroy evil--hence the legends surrounding silver bullets killing werewolves and vampires.

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